A few years ago, I decided to visit my brother was stationed Germany. I assumed that Germans would speak English. But I that many people spoke only their tongue - including the ticket inspector the train. He punched my ticket, then cordially for a bit, making gestures a windmill. I simply from time to time to show him that I interested. When he had , an American woman soldier in the compartment forward and asked if I spoke German.

"No," I .

"Then that explains," she said, " you didn't bat an eyelid when he told you that you were on the train."